Yankees ride subway

New Yanks Meet Fans on Way to Work

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 24- Yankees players Andrew Miller, Mason Williams and Brendan Ryan rode the subway from midtown Manhattan to Yankee Stadium, introducing themselves to fans and giving away Yankees caps.

#Yankees #AndrewMiller #MasonWilliams #Bronxnews

Highbridge News: Pitching is killing #Yankees

Highbridge News: Pitching is killing #Yankees: Ain't that a Pitch Pitching is killing #Yankees By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK,  JUNE 23 - Sunday afternoon  M...

Pitching is killing #Yankees

Ain't that a Pitch

Pitching is killing #Yankees

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 23- Sunday afternoon Masahiro Tanaka allowed a career-high three home runs and tied his mark of seven runs in five innings as the New York Yankees headed to an early loss against the Detroit Tigers. Monday night, Michael Pineda, the Yankees most effective pitcher was not any better as New York lost the opening of a three-game series to the Philadelphia Phillies 11-8.

So in two games, and with supposedly the most reliable tandem on the mound, manager Joe Girardi must be wondering are these the arms that can be depended on to win a mediocre AL east division? In two straight games Yankees pitching gave up a combined 23 runs, and CC Sabathia who at times shows some signs of becoming an ace again will get the ball Tuesday night in the Bronx.

The good news, assuming Sabathia can’t get the job done, is the return of Ivan Nova Wednesday afternoon, his first start in

over a year since undergoing Tommy John Surgery. And there is always a concern about the 35-year-old Sabathia and his history of elbow and knee issues. 

But the Yankees need to get more consistent on the mound if they are serious about not missing the postseason a third straight year. The Phillies, a team last in baseball in runs scored, probably wish Pineda was on the mound every time they take the field.

Pineda had no command. The slider which helped him compile 16 strikeouts a month ago against the Orioles, and had him throw six no-hit innings against the Marlins last Wednesday night in the Bronx, was not visible. The eight runs allowed in 3.11 innings, 11-hits and a home run ball took the Yankees quickly out of another ballgame.

Now the questions are about Tanaka and Pineda. Are there concerns about a Tanaka elbow that is being overworked and headed to eventual surgery? And is Pineda once again feeling effects of a bad right shoulder that put him twice on the disabled list the past two years? 

“It’s hard to tell,” said Pitching coach Larry Rothschild regarding any impact on Pineda of a 116- pitch count performance in that game against the Orioles. 

He added, “His last time out, he was as good as he was probably at any time. I don’t know that we can have the answer to that. I don’t think it’s the case, but there’s no way to know if it is or isn’t.”

However, Girardi and Rothschild need to get some answers, and they have to come soon. There has been some discussion about Girardi going to a six-man pitching rotation and that may not work because pitchers are creatures of habit and need that consistency.

And, at the moment the most reliable and consistent starter has been Adam Warren who recorded his fifth win of the season in a Yankees 7-2 win over the Tigers Friday night. Also keep in mind that has been a surprise, because Warren was supposed to be the odd man out and designated to bullpen duty.

But there has been a change of events and the unexpected that should have the Yankees brass in some type of panic mode. Though not even a half of the season has yet to be played, there is plenty of time to get the pitching issues addressed.

Girardi is not in that panic mode, and you can’t blame him because the one question was the offense and the Yankees have had no issue hitting home runs. His team is second in baseball with the long ball as Brett Gardner and Brian McCann put the Yankees back in a game that saw the Phillies get a season high in runs and in hits.

Pineda said he is healthy and there are no issues. Girardi has his reasons why the right-hander, 8-4, had a bad evening on the mound.  

“It's been kind of up and down, and that's hard to figure out," Girardi said. "Sometimes they just go through stretches like that, the starters, and then they'll reel off six or seven good ones in a row. You've got to make pitches every time you go out. That's the bottom line. Tonight he just didn't.”    

Girardi added, “It starts with your starting pitching.” Indeed it does and if he and Rothschild don’t find answers for consistency that leads to more questions and a prevailing one:

How far will the Yankees get to October without good starting pitching that is needed to get there?

Comment: Ring786@aol.com  Twitter@Ring786  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

#Yankees #Tanaka #Pineda #Pitching #Bronxnews

br>


br> br>

Highbridge News: A-Rod Joins the 3000 Hit Club

Highbridge News: A-Rod Joins the 3000 Hit Club: A-Rod Joins the 3000 Hit Club Tries to Channel Jeter's Humbleness By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YO...

A-Rod Joins the 3000 Hit Club

A-Rod Joins the 3000 Hit Club

Tries to Channel Jeter's Humbleness

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 20- With two out and no men on base in the first inning on Friday, June 19, Alex Rodriguez  homered on a 95 mph fastball from Justin Verlander of the Tigers to join the MLB 3,000 hit club. He wasted no time as it was the first pitch he saw. Rodriguez is the 29th MLB player to become a member of this exclusive fraternity.

Rodriguez is the first to reach 3,000 hits since Derek Jeter on July 9, 2011. He will only be the second player, along with Jeter, to reach that milestone while a member of the Yankees. He is also only the third of the 29 to homer for his 3,000th. He follows Jeter and Wade Boggs.

It appeared destined that Yankee fans in the Bronx would have the opportunity to witness the special event in person as Rodriguez began the current homestand with 2,995 hits and eight games scheduled at Yankee Stadium. He hit safely twice on Wednesday, twice on Thursday and was obviously, prepared for Friday.

He commented after the game, “It’s a magical number, 3,000. I’m glad to be in the club. [I’m] very emotional, overwhelmed. I’m so happy to do it here in front of the fans. I was especially happy my two daughters were here.”

When asked what would be most remembered by him about this day, he replied, “After the last out, Miguel Cabrera came over and gave me a hug. That’s what I’ll take away from this day 20 years from now."

As the days pass, Rodriguez moves higher and higher in the ranks of career offensive statistics. He is the second player in MLB history to drive in more than 2,000 runs. Rodriguez’s RBI total (2,004) is only below the 2,297 of Hank Aaron.

The 39 year-old ranks fourth in career home runs with 667. He is currently only behind Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762). He is sixth in extra base hits with 1,228. He ranks eighth in runs scored with 1,957

When asked which of these accomplishments meant the most to him, he answered, “RBI and runs because that’s how you win games. The most important thing is to win the game.

Rodriguez’s impressive career statistics are not only a measure of his lengthy 20+ year MLB career, but of a collection of outstanding individual seasons. The infielder compiled 13 consecutive years of blasting 30 or more home runs and driving in at least 100 runs (1998-2010). He also scored more than 100 runs in 13 straight years (1996-2008).

Those achievements were rewarded with many honors. A-Rod was selected to the American League All-Star team 14 times. He was a 10 time Silver Slugger winner and twice won a Gold Glove for fielding prowess at shortstop. Rodriguez was also the A.L. MVP in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

The career numbers should be put into perspective by the large amount of games A-Rod missed during the past few years. He was suspended by MLB for all 162 games in 2014. In addition, he missed 221 games during the previous three seasons (2011-2013) due to injuries.

A question must also be raised regarding the affect upon Rodriguez’s stats by the use of PEDs. The answer to that cannot be scientifically be determined. He implied his thoughts now are not on the Hall of fame or the past as he is preparing “to finish my career so I can be proud and do it the right way.”

#ARod #3000 hits #Yankees #Bronxnews

br>

Highbridge News: Quest for 3000

Highbridge News: Quest for 3000: Quest for 3000 A-Rod milestone awaits another night By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 19- Like it or ...

Quest for 3000

Quest for 3000

A-Rod milestone awaits another night

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, JUNE 19- Like it or not, depending on your feeling about Alex Rodriguez and his year-long suspension from baseball due to using performance enhancing drugs, but career hit number 3,000 is near and it will probably come Friday night in the Bronx.

A milestone for A-Rod that very few have achieved and you have to dig deep into the Yankees media notes to get the vital statistics. That’s another matter for another day because the Yankees will have to acknowledge the hit when it comes.

But Thursday night, with A-Rod at the plate in the eighth inning, and one hit shy of making history, the Yankee Stadium crowd anticipated the moment. They, as they have always done this season, stood and cheered Rodriguez as the cameras were ready to take photos and videos as he stepped to the plate.

Except they were disappointed, as were the media in the press box because Marlins’ reliever Sam Dyson did not cooperate by issuing four inside pitches for a ball. When Rodriguez went to first base the fans continued to show their displeasure at Dyson for not making them witness baseball history because A-Rod awaits another night to become the 29th player to get 3,000 career hits.

Dyson, if you can believe it, said it was more important to get the out, that it was more of an incentive to get A-Rod out. He claimed to not hear the fans and could care less about history. Perhaps that can be believed but the Marlins at that juncture were trailing by six runs and Dyson gave up four, all earned.

“I don't even know how to describe it," Rodriguez said about the cheers and fan support. "It feels good. Every time moments like that happen, I can just take a moment to reflect that a year ago today. Their support has actually helped me play a lot better."

The year ago was reference again to his suspension, and to many skeptics another milestone to them does not belong in the record books.

But, in all due respect to Alex Rodriguez, he has gone with the plan and been the team player. There has been no wrong statements, and his answers to the media have been about appreciation and not about himself. Reaching this milestone does not have an impact that Derek Jeter received when he hit the 3,000 plateau, then again there is no comparison when  it comes to A-Rod and Jeter.

Rodriguez had an impact in the Yankees 9-4 win over the Marlins getting two hits that made that eighth inning at bat one for drama. That first hit drove in a run that got him closer to the milestone and added to his record career RBI total.

Manager Joe Girardi was also hoping the hit would come. “Was hoping to get it out of the way,” he said. “He will get another opportunity tomorrow. Think the crowd wanted to see it. I an understand. Dyson was trying to get him out.”

But those fans, many who won’t be in the Bronx Friday night, wanted to see a hit and not a walk. This was not one night they cheered for A-Rod as they have been in his corner all season.  And Girardi, when asked, once again became the philosopher regarding the fans and how they have supported Rodriguez, who is having a comeback type first half of the season.

“Fans just want to see the players do well,” he said. “I think it's the society we live in. Most people will pull for your own team, no matter what the situation is and people want to see people come back. Giving people second chances. Most people in this room have made mistakes. One thing about Alex you see him get better everyday and he loves the game. The guys in that room respect him,” referring to the support A-Rod has received from his teammates.

Girardi added, “People are appreciative of what he has done for our club this year and how he’s helped us with winning.”

It also helps that the Yankees won again, that CC Sabathia threw the ball well and did not get the decision despite pitching six innings on three hits, and not issuing a walk for the fifth time this season. Carlos Beltran finally heard some cheers and put the Yankees ahead with a two-run homer in the seventh.

But the night was all about Alex Rodriguez and his quest to 3,000 hits. He surpassed the quest of having the fans in his corner, and it can only get better when he gets the milestone hit in the Bronx and continues to help the Yankees get wins.   

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  Twitter@Ring786

#Yankees #ARod #3000 hits #Bronxnews

br>